What is the Bible?

The Word of God. Sacred Scripture. The Holy Bible.

Pretty powerful phrases to describe a book.  Actually, the Bible is a collection of books, letters, & poetry.  66 of them.  Divided into 2 main categories: the Old & New Testaments.  What's so interesting is that these books, mainly named after their themes (e.g, Genesis, which means "beginning") or authors (e.g., Luke) or target audience (e.g., Philippians, written to the Christian in the ancient city of Philippi) all communicate the same idea: God connecting with and redeeming his creation whom He loves.

Think about that.  These books were written over the span of 1000 years by 40 different authors from all walks of life on 3 continents in 3 languages...the story is all the same.  Amazing.

The most famous passage describing the Bible is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

These two verses communicate that the Bible was literally "breathed out" by God Himself.  He inspired the writers of Scripture to write down His words through their hand, through their personality, through their culture.  These verses also communicate that the Bible is good (profitable) to teach right thinking, correct wrong thinking, train people for right living, and correct wrong living.  That kinda covers it.

But my favorite verse about God's Word is found in Hebrews 4:12.  It says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

The thing I like about this verse is that it shows the Bible as living.  This means that you can interact with it.  It speaks to you.  And since it's living and active, it doesn't get outdated...it remains relevant.  But relevant for what?  For our lives.  It's message cuts through all the crap in our lives and gets right to the heart (which another verse in the Bible says is the "well-spring of our lives").  It hits us right where we live...right to the place that really matters most.

So when you read the Bible, approach as not just a book, but as the Words of Someone who wants to talk to you.  Get past what may look like archaic rules and listen to what it's saying to your heart.  And lastly, try reading it from the perspecitve of God revealing Himself to you...Him taking the initiative to meet you.  The Bible isn't about God "proving" to the world that He exists, but rather saying something like, "Here I am.  I know life is frustrating and confusing and heartbreaking.  But let me tell you a story that spans the length of time.  Let me tell you the Great Plan that I have for you.  Let me tell you how much I love you."

The Bible may just become living and active in your life if you read it like that.